Folding machine



Apri116,1929. E.' RADER K 1,709,282

FOLDING MACHINE r Filed March 25, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet l f. Il.

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FOLDING MACHINE Filed March 25, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEYS April16, l1929. E. D. RADER FOLDING MACHINE Filed March 25, 1926 6Sheets-Sheet 5 1N VENTOR 6.14.. Ww, '7 4MM A ORNEYS Aprille, 1929. E DRADER y 1,709,282?

FOLDING MACHINE Filed March 25, 1926 ...Kater/@gs Patented Apr. 16,1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EARL D. BADER, OF MOUNTl KISOO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO DEXTER FOLDER COM-PANY, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 0F NEW' YORK.

FOLDING MACHINE.

Application led March 25, 1926. Serial No. 97,378.l

The present invention is an impi'ovement in folding machines.

The objects of the invention, generally, are to provide a mechanism bywhich a larger numberl of folds can be made with greater economy,accuracy and speed' than has been possible with standard machinesheretofore on the market.

In one aspect the invention resides in p ro- Viding a consecutive seriesof loop-folding mechanisms and breaking up or separating the same sothat the partially folded sheet can be re-registered before the foldingoperation thereon of a succeeding looper mechanism, whereby there issecured uniformity in the final folding of the sheet and the perfectionof the folding of the title page and the fold dimension regardless ofany error of registering in the preceding folding operation. In such aseparated seriesof loop folders, the operating is greatly simplified sofar las diagnosing trouble and rectifying the same is concerned.

In another aspect, the invention resides in providing improvedmechanismfor delivering a partially folded andre-registered sheet topaloop-folding mechanism at the surface speed of the rollers ofthel'latte'r, thus insuring great accuracy and facility in tliemaking ofthe succeeding loop folds. This is a feature of great importance in thesuccessful operation ofthe folder.

In another aspect Vthe invention resides in an improved means forregistering and folding sheets' in association with conveying means, towhich means the sheets, whether previously folded or not, may be fedmanually or by any suitable .feeding/mechanism.

In still another aspect, the invention resides in slitting or separatingthe folded sheet while it is still in the lcontrol of the foldingrollers,

.which has important advantages, particu- 'larly as. regards accuracy.

In another and important aspect, the invention resides in the provisionof a loopfolding attachment that can be' readily attached to thestandard jobbing or other folder in various positions, with markedadvantages over present types of knife-fold attachments in economy'ofspace, accessibility tothe basic machine, accuracy and speed of folding,and control of the desired imposition. I

Further, the invention resides in an improved construction of foldingroller constituted by a plurality'of separable and adjustable sleeves;and also in an improved construction of stacker board that is adjustablewith relation to the final folding rollers, and that is preferablyadapted to be easily movedto inoperative position or to be readilyremoved from the folding machine.

Various other features of invention and improvements will be rpointedout in connection with the detailed description of the accompanyingdrawings, illustrating one embodiment of the inventive idea, andwherein- Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are respectively a perspective, plan and sideelevation of the last looper mechanism and the associated stackertion,of the loop-folding mechanism and associated parts; and

Fig. 7 is a view showing the improved attachment in two positions.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like' reference numerals indicatelike parts, 10 is a power shaft which is driven from any suitable sourceof power, as a motor 11, through belt 12. From this shaft 10 is drivenall of the mechanisms ofthe folder proper, as well as the foldingrollers and associated mechanism shown in Figs. 14, inclusive.

These folding rollers are mounted, respectively, on shafts 14, 15, 16and 17, which latter have suitable bearings in standards 18 and 19carried, respectively, by brackets 2O and 21 which are bolted oiotherwise secured to the frame of the jobber or other folder, as shownin Fig. 3.

Shaft 14 is driven from shaft 1() through gear 22 mounted on shaft 14,meshing with a gear 28 carried by ashaft 24wlich is also provided with abevel gear 25v that meshes l with a bevel gear 26 carried by a shortshaft 27, which latter is secured in any suitable manner to shaft 10, asby coupling sleeves 28 and 29. Uncoupling the sleeves 28 and 29 rendersthe attachment inoperative.

Shafts 15, 16 and l17 are driven from shaft 14 and are rotated therefromin the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 6. A gear 14 mesheswith a gear 15A on shaft 15, gear 15 meshes with a gear 16 on shaft 16,and gear 16 meshes with gear 17 on shaft 17.

Each of said folding rollers/has preferably a knurled surface, and eachof the rollers carried by shafts 16 and 17 is preferably constituted bya plurality of separate, knurled sleeves 30 (onshaft 16) and 31 (onshaft 17 These sleeves are adjustable along their respective shafts, andeach is provided with means for lixedly securing the same in positiononits shaft. As here shown (Figs 6), each of said shafts is provided witha V- shaped slot 32 that extends longitudinally thereof, each sleevebeing provided with a V-shaped set-screw 33 that is adapted to bescrewed into said slot to securely holdy the i sleeve in any desiredposition of adjustment. This arrangement is not only effective inavoiding" the difficulties heretofore -encountered with respect toadjustment of the sleeves and the absence of bui-ring of the groove andplay of the sleeves, but enables slitters 34 to be placed and secured inany desired position on shaft 17, for example, with correspond-l ingclearances 35 between the sleeves 3() on shaft 16, so that the slitters34 can cut against the ends of the associated sleeves 30.V f iAssociated with said folding rollers is a looper-mechanism of anysuitable construction, preferably composed .of a series of upper gridmembers 36 mounted on a rod 37, and lower grid members 38 mounted on' arod 39, these rods having bearings in brackets 20 (Fig. 3). The uppergrids preferably carry means to determine the point at which the loop orfold in the sheet is to be effected. As here shown, this may consist ofa rod or bar 40 that is adjustable along said grids, said rod carrying aplurality of gages 41 which are engaged by the sheet between the upperand lower grids. Preferably, a second similar looper mechanism isassociated 'with the folding rollers 14, 15, 16 and 17, the same beingmounted in the position indicated in Fig. 6, in which 42 are the uppergrid members and 43 the lower grid members, mounted, respectively, onrods 44 and 45 (Fig. 3) carried by brackets 46. It will be understoodthateither one of these 'looper mechanisms may be used, dependent uponthe desired imposition of the folded product, or that both may be usedto secure two parallel folds at this point, or that neither may beused,in which event the rollers simply act to deliver the product of thepreceding folding mechanism, Y

(either slitted or unslitted. If it is desired to deliver thesignatures'unslitted, the cutting roller will be elevated out ofengagement with the signature, as by the use of a. wedge at ai, Fig. .3.

As clearly shown in Fig. 6, when the sheet is being loopedjbetween grids36 and 38, de-

flector fingers 47 prevent the entry'of the sheet between grids 42 and43, whereas when the deficctor fingers 47 are-in the dotted lineposition, deflector fingers 48 associated with grids 36 and 38 will bemoved to position to prevent gers 47 are similarly mounted. Said fingersl are moved by the operator to their operative or inoperative positionby rotating the rod 49 through a hand-wheel (not shown) and by it heldin operative or inoperative position.v

I The partially folded sheets are progressed into position to bedelivered to the folding rollers (Figs. 4, 6 and 7) by suitableconveying means, such as a series of endless tapes 54 that passdownwardly over idler roller 55, around idlers 56, upwardly over idlerrollers on shaft 57, and thence around roller 58 (Fig. 7, f from whichsaid tapes are preferably driven. The roller 58 is one of the groupassociated with a looper mechanism 59 which, in the embodiment of theinvention herein illustrated, is associated with the first-fold knife60. The indications at A, A and A (Fig. 7) show the manner in which, bya knife and loop construction, two parallel foldsare imparted to theproduct (as fully described and claimed in my copending application Sr.No. 71,167) that is deposited on the tapes 54 to be progressed to thelooper mechanism heretofore described, by which there is imparted to thesheet a third and fourth parallel fold.

The accuracy of this third parallel folding operation depends upon themannerin which the partially folded sheet is delivered to the rapidlyrotating rollers 61 and 62 (Fig. 6) and to this end there are providedmeans for registering the sheet before it is so delivered and likewisemeans for effecting this delivery at substantially the surface speed ofsaid rollers while maintaining register, thus insuring the greatestaccuracy of presentation and the maximum output of a highly uniformproduct.

As best shown in Figs. 4-7, inclusive, the progress of the partiallyfolded sheet on the tapes 54 is stopped and the sheet brought to rest bya gate or stop mechanism, preferably comprising a series of lingers 63adj ustably mounted on a shaft 64 having bearings in standards 18 and19. These fingers are lowered into the path of the partially foldedsheet and. raised out of the path of the same by means of an arm 65secured to shaft 64,l to the free end of which arm is connected one endof a link 66, the other end of which carries a roller 67 that engagesthe face of a CFI ' ed to be intermittently'operated and which,

during the time the gate is in the path of the sheet, is stationary.This forwarding or feeding mechanism, as herein illustrated,

. comprises a shaft 71, preferably provided with knurled members 72adjustable therealong and engaging the under side of the sheet, a droproller 73 being preferably as-` sociated with each member 72 and beingadapted to enga-ge the other surface of the sheet above said member 72.`

The shaft 71 is driven or rotated intermittently by any suitable means.As here shown, a gear 74 carried by said shaft 71 meshes with a toothedsegment 75 pivoted at 76 and operated by a cam 77, mounted on shaft 69,through a link 78, one end of which is connected to said segment at 79and the other end of which carries a roller 80-that engages the surfaceof said cam 77. The forwarding or feeding movement of said shaft 71 isin a counterclockwise direct-ion, as seen in F ig. 6, and this movementis effected by said cam which is designed to rotate said shaft ataccelerated speed which, at the( moment the sheet is delivered into thebight of rollers 61 and 62, is the surface speed of 'said rollers. Thesegment 75 is moved to itsiniti'al position by means of a spring 81secured at` one endto the link 78 and anchored at its other end to theframe of the machine at 82.l p

The drop rollers 73 vareeach carried in an arm 83 adjustablyv mounted ona shaft 8,4. This shaft is rocked to raise and lower the drop rollers atthe pro ertime by a cam 85 mounted. on cam sha t 69 and operatingthrough an .arm 86 pivoted ,at 87, a rod 88, arm 89, shaft 90, arm 91,link 92 and arm 93 carried by said shaft 84. The drop rollers are-elevated b said cam and are pressed yieldingly against the sheet bymeans of a spring 94.

The sequence and duration of the operation of the gate or stop 63, theside registering mechanism 70, the drop rollers 73 and the lforwardingor feeding shaft 71 are graphically indicated in Fig. 5, the positionsofithe several parts at each stage of the Aoperation of stopping, sideregistering and feeding the sheet forward into the bight of rollers 61and 62 being shown at a, b, c, d, e, f.

The shaft 69 on which the cams 68, '77 and 85 are mounted is driven fromshaft 10 through a train. of gearing comprising a pinion 95 on shaft 10that meshes with an idler 96 that in turn meshes with a gear 97 on ashaft 98 that carries a bevel gear`99 meshing with a bevel gear 100 onshaft 69.

The folded sheet, slitted or separated, if desired, into componentparts, is delivered from the folding rollers onto a suitablestacker-board. Preferably, the stackerboard employed is that illustratedherein. as shown, the board 101 is provided on its under surface with across-bar 102 in the ends of which are carried pivot pins 103 thatengage in recesses 104 in the brackets 20 and 21. at the end of theboard remote from the rollers is provided a telescopic supportcomprising members 105 and 106, a set-screw 1.07 acting to hold theparts in any desired position of adjustment. The supporting member 105is preferably pivoted to the under side of the board at 108, and thesupporting member 106 preferably engages over a projection on a baseplate 109. Through the structure described, the end of the stacker-boardadjacentthe rollers can be readily raised or lowered with respect'to thesame, the proper position of the stacker-board for successful stackingof any signatures being determined by the character of the stock, theweight of the sheet or signature, and the number of sections into whichthe signature may have been cut. Further, the stacker can be readilyswung to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3 by simply withdrawingthe member 105 from member 106; member 106 then may be lifted from baseplate 109, thus clearing the Hoor when the stacker-board is not in use.

This stacker-board is preferably provided with a plurality of endlesstapes 110 which pass around rollers on a shaft 111 and around rollers112 carried in arms 113.Y S-tep-by-step movement is preferably impartedto the tapes from this shaft 111 which is mounted in castings 114, 115secured to the under surface of the board in any suitable manner, as byscrews 116. The outline of this casting beneath the board is shown indotted lines at 114 in Fig. 2.

I The shaft 111 is rotated step-by-step in any" suitable manner as by apawl and ratchetA connection. Mounted on a stub shaft 117 carried by thestacker-board 101 is a pawl carrier 118 on which a pawl 119 is secured.This pawl meshes with a ratchet 120 loosely mounted on stub shaft 117,to which'ratch'et there is se- 128 of said lever being connected to oneend of a link 129, the other end of whichy link is connected to the pawlcarrier through a pin and slot connection at j1,30 for controlling theextent of movement of the awl 119.

There are 'preferably' lormed integrally with the castings 114 and 115 apair of uprights 131 and 132 which carry blocks 133 forming bearings fora cross-rod 134 rigidly mounted in said blocks 133.A Carried by said rod134 are a plurality of top rods 135. The] blocks 133 are adjustablevertically along the uprights 131 and are adapted to be secured in anydesired position of adjustment by means of a screw 13G engaging in aslot 137.

There is also preferably mounted on said stacker-board 101a pair ofstandards 138 and 139 which carry a cross-rod or bar 140. Thesestandards are adjustable longitudinally of the board and are adapted tobe secured in adjusted position by means of set-screws 141. The screws141 are adapted to engage a metal plate 142 secured to the under surfaceof the board. The cross-rod 140 has mounted thereon a plurality of arms143, in the free end of each of which there is mounted on a pin 144 aroller 145. Preferably, there is a roller associated with each of theendless tapes 110, said rollers bearing on the top of the deliveredsignatures and pressing the same by gravity or otherwise against theendless tapes 110. These arms 143 are so mounted on rod 140 that theymay be swung through an arc of 180 to accommodate various sizes ofsignatures. A stop 101 is secured to the outer end of the stacker-boardin any suitable manner. The signatures are stopped by the same, a pile'being formed at said stop, and succeeding signatures are'fed onto thepile.

The stacker-board 101 and the various parts carried thereby can bereadily removed from the folder, when desired, by simply disconnectingthe pin and slot connection at 130 between the link 129 and the pawlcarrier 118, as indicated in Fig. 3, disconnecting the parts 105 and106' ofthe telescopic support, and then lifting the stacker-board fromits pivotal position at 104.

From the foregoing description of the construction and operation of thedevice, the manifest advantages of the same Will be readily understoodby those skilled in the art. The attachment described can be secured inany desired position on the jobber or other folder, two of which areindicated in Figs. 6 and 7 In these views, the attachment is shown inposition at BC and D. When the attachment is in use at BC, it is notused at D, and it Will be understood, as heretofore described, that Whenso used at BC the folded sheet will pass directly from A to BC Withoutany intermediate folding and that at this time knife 146 is inoperative.The attachment as shown at D is 'operating on a signature that hasreceived two yparallel folds (by the knife 60 and the assol ciatedlooper mechanism) followed by a right angle fold at the knife 146, toimpart thereto one or two folds parallel to that made by the knife 146,it being understood that a pair of looper mechanisms similar to B and Care, or may be used at D for this purpose. It will be understood that,when the attachment at I) is operating, the knife fold mechanisms 147,148 and 149 are inoperative. When the attachment is used at D, theattachment at BC is readily disconnected by uncoupling sleeves anism at148; and the signature 149, indicated `in the delivery, is the result ofthe operation of the folding mechanism 149. In this view the signature146a is the only signature that has been operated on by the loopingmechanism at D.

It 'is'to be noted that that part of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 4may, if desired, have sheets either folded or unfolded fed theretomanually or by any suitable feedv ing mechanism.

The terms sheet and signature have been interchangeably used in thedescription and claims.

While, for the purpose of illustration, one expression of the inventiveidea has been shown and described in detail, it will be understood thattheinvention is not limited thereto and that the inventive idea issusceptible of various mechanical expressions within the limits of theappended claims.

What is claimed is l. In a folding machine, the combination of means forfolding a sheet, a second folding instrumentality provided With aplurality of folding rollers driven at a predetermined speed, a conveyorfoi` progressing the folded sheets from said means to saidinstrumentality, means for stopping the folded sheet before it ispresented to said instrumentality, and means having an acceleratedmovement and engaging the folded sheet on said conveyor forpresentingthe folded sheet to said instrumentality at substantially the speed ofthe latter.

2. I n a folding machine, the combinaiton of means 'for folding a sheet,a loop folding mechanism provided with a plurality of folding rollersdriven at a predetermined speed, a conveyor for progressing the foldedsheet from said means to said mechanism, means for stopping the foldedsheet before it is presented to said mechanism, and means having anaccelerated movement and engaging the folded sheet on said conveyor forpresenting the folded sheet to `said mechanism at substantially thesurface speed of the latter. i

3. In a folding machine, the combination for progressing the foldedsheet from said.

rollers, and means having an accelerated movement and engaging thefolded sheet on said conveyor for presenting the folded sheet to saidrollers yat substantially the surface speed of the latter.

Il. In a folding machine, the combination of means for folding a sheet,a loop folding mechanism provided with folding rollers, a conveyor forprogressing the folded sheet from said means to said rollers, means forstopping the folded sheet before it is presented to said rollers, andmeans engaging the folded sheet ou said conveyor for advancing the sheetat accelerated speed and presenting it to said rollers at substantiallythe surface speed of the latter.

5. In combination, sheet advancing means, folding means provided withrollers, means for registering said sheet, and means positioned belowand engaging the under surface of said sheet for delivering said sheetto said rollers at substantially the surface speed of the latter.

6. In combination, sheet advancing means,`

. for registering said sheet, and intermittently operating means fordelivering said sheet to said rollers at substantially the surface speedof the latter.

7. In combination, sheet advancing means, folding means provided withrollers, means for registering said sheet, normally stationary feedingmechanism engaging the sheet,- andmeans for driving said mechanism ataccelerated speed and delivering said sheet to said rollers atsubstantially the surface speed of the latter.

8. fn combination, sheet advancing means, folding means provided withrollers, means for registering said sheet, a normally stationary memberengaging one side of said sheet, cooperating means engaging the otherside, and means for delivering said sheet to said rollers atsubstantially the surface speed of the latter through the movement ofsaid member.

9. ln combination, sheet advancing means, folding means provided withdriven rollers, means for stopping and registering said sheet, anormally stationary shaft mounted adjacent the sheet path, and means fordriving said shaft at an accelerated speed and delivering said sheet tosaid rollers at substantially the surface speed of the latter.

l0. In combination, sheet advancing means, p

folding means provided with driven rollers, means for stopping andregistering said sheet, a normally stationary shaft mounted adjacent thesheet path, and cam-operated means for driving said shaft intermittentlyand delivering said sheet to said rollers at substantially the surfacespeed of the latter.

11. In combination, a plurality of' loop folding mechanisms, conveyingmeans for hprogressing the partially folded sheet from one mechanism toanother, means for registering the sheet on said conveying means, andmeans intermittently operated and having an accelerated movement fordelivering said partially folded sheet to the succeeding loop foldingmechanism at substantially the surface speed of the latter. I

12. In a loop folding mechanism, a plurality of folding rollers, androtary means for slitting the sheet as itpasses through said foldingrollers.

13. In a loop folding mechanism, a plurality of folding rollers, andmeans carried b v one of said rollers for slitting or separating thesheet as it passes through said rollers.

14. A folding roller comprising a shaft provided with a longitudinalgroove, a plurality of separable sleeves slidable along saidshaft, andmeans carried by each sleeve and Aengagingin said groove to positionsaid sleeve on said shaft. l

15. A folding roller comprising a shaft provided with a longitudinalgroove V-shaped in cross-section, a plurality of separable sleevesslidable along said'shaft, and a V- shaped screw.carried by each sleeyeand engaging in said groove to position said sleeve on said shaft.

1G. A folding roller comprising a shaft provided with a longitudinalgroove V-shaped in cross-section, a plurality of separable sleevesslidable along said shaft, a V-shaped screw carried by each sleeve andengaging in said groove to position said sleeve on said shaft, and aplurality of removable slitters slidable along said shaft and held inposition between said sleeves.

17. An attachment for a folding machine comprising a loop foldmechanism, a conveyor for'delivering the signature to said mechanism,means for registering the signature, on said conveyor and means forpresenting the signatureo said mechanism at substantially the surfacespeed of the latter.

lIn testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

EARL D. RADER.

